Yeah same here, all my coworkers tend be very frugal. There are two guys in the warehouse that eat out a lot, but as they each have at least two side gigs in addition to their job here I cannot in good conscience judge their spending choices.

When we were young and had a small car everyone started to say we needed a mini-van. No we didn't. Most of the time all 5 of us were not in the car at the same time. Even when the kids got to be teens the 3 boys could still fit in the back seat. Just a waste to upgrade for stupid reasons.

We used to hear a lot of the, "but what will you do if they have a friend come over and you pick them all up after school?" We've survived it thus far.

But... but what if you want to haul loads of lumber! Or full sheets of drywall? Or an entire football team! Or sleep a family in your vehicle? I mean really, one must buy a mini van for these everyday occurrences...

Y'all stop with the minivan hate. I loved my old Volvo wagon, but you can't believe what you can fit in a minivan. I once fit in two huge rocking chairs at the same time. And for everyday use, it is pretty great. My 14 year old is already six feet tall and growing and the two younger ones are well on their way, too. We fold one middle row seat into the floor and he sits in the "wayback" and can put his legs out and they reach the back of the front seat. I carry 3 tall kids, a trombone and a double bass in there all the time.

Yup. When we were buying our house, we were visiting with my husband's parents. I can't remember if they were visiting us, or us them (opposite coasts). MIL: but where will WE sleep?

Me: On the sofabed in the living room! Or in a hotel! For the once every 2 years you guys come, I'm not spending an extra $100,000 for the extra bedroom. Can pay for a lot of hotels!

I have a close relative that does this. Went from a 4,000sq ft house worth half a million to a 900 sq ft house that she bought for $15k (and then renovated it with her husband). She's more than willing to put up guests in a hotel when they visit, if they're not comfortable on their sofa.

Most of my guests are staying with me for their convenience, not mine. I have a sofa bed they are welcome to use and will share my bathroom with them, but done are my days of feeling that I have to have a bedroom just for the 1-3 times a year that I may have a guest in town.

A coworker is trying to sell a "designer's" crib for $350, paid $500 for it.

We paid $25 for our crib, used. Our kids haven't complained that it was not "design" enough for them to sleep in when they were babies. Fingers crossed that our kids don't realize how awesome of a crib they could have had, had we spent 15 times the amount we did.

A coworker is trying to sell a "designer's" crib for $350, paid $500 for it.

We paid $25 for our crib, used. Our kids haven't complained that it was not "design" enough for them to sleep in when they were babies. Fingers crossed that our kids don't realize how awesome of a crib they could have had, had we spent 15 times the amount we did.

Yup. When we were buying our house, we were visiting with my husband's parents. I can't remember if they were visiting us, or us them (opposite coasts). MIL: but where will WE sleep?

Me: On the sofabed in the living room! Or in a hotel! For the once every 2 years you guys come, I'm not spending an extra $100,000 for the extra bedroom. Can pay for a lot of hotels!

I have a close relative that does this. Went from a 4,000sq ft house worth half a million to a 900 sq ft house that she bought for $15k (and then renovated it with her husband). She's more than willing to put up guests in a hotel when they visit, if they're not comfortable on their sofa.

My brother in law has also told us that there are 2 houses with airB&B in their street and that visitors can stay there instead. Smart. Do I like it as a guest: not really. But that is not his problem.

Linda what don't you like about it? We have one spare room (used as an office/storage) that we host guests in, but if there's more people than the house can hold, airbnb has been our go to. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on downsides to this.

My purpose is visiting them, not a bunch of strangers in another house. I might end up in a house with smokers. And I would not like to pay for it. BIL did not mention who would pay.I would rather sleep on a mattrass on the floor in their house.Last time we ended up visiting them only during daytime on our way to another location.

We actually often have people camp over. Kids especially love it. We usually limit it to summer, get a campfire going, and all have a brilliant time! They key is don't stop drinking until the tent is up :)

A coworker is trying to sell a "designer's" crib for $350, paid $500 for it.

We paid $25 for our crib, used. Our kids haven't complained that it was not "design" enough for them to sleep in when they were babies. Fingers crossed that our kids don't realize how awesome of a crib they could have had, had we spent 15 times the amount we did.

Sounds like your kids were really deprived!! ;)

LOL I had a co-worker several years back who was getting ready for the birth of his first child. He started telling me about the extremely high-end, fancypants jogging stroller he had just bought, and I shit you not, said something along the lines of how his infant child would "really know he was loved" because he had bought it such a nice stroller. I replied with "Wow, sounds pretty nice. (pause) So, what kind of stroller did you have when you were a baby?"

He looked at me like I was completely nuts and said "I don't remember!" Then, after a brief pause, said "Oh...."

Logged

"It's not just about me and my dream of doing nothing. It's about all of us." - Peter Gibbons, Office Space

Over the weekend her husband had some tattoos done. They had to come up with $500 to pay for holding the house they're going to rent once their house closes. She had to borrow money from her parents in order to pay it. They've known that this would be happening for over a month. She actually told him before he had it done that he would regret it (financially) but he whined and complained because 'he never gets to do anything for him'.

Apparently her sister would only be willing to loan them the money if they all went through their last months bank statements together.

She bought me a coffee and a doughnut on her way back from pumping which was really sweet but all I could think was honey you are broke!

Yesterday she was to tired to make the grilled cheese sandwiches that she had planned for dinner so they got pizza delivered. $40. Grilled cheese!

I also found out that they're going to invest $15,000 from the sale of their house in the realtor/contractor husband and wife team that they used to sell their house. Their reasoning was that it was worth the risk because they would just spend it if it was in their account. Using it to pay off more debt didn't enter into their minds.

LOL I had a co-worker several years back who was getting ready for the birth of his first child. He started telling me about the extremely high-end, fancypants jogging stroller he had just bought, and I shit you not, said something along the lines of how his infant child would "really know he was loved" because he had bought it such a nice stroller. I replied with "Wow, sounds pretty nice. (pause) So, what kind of stroller did you have when you were a baby?"

He looked at me like I was completely nuts and said "I don't remember!" Then, after a brief pause, said "Oh...."

Did that at my granddad's with a 1 person popup tent. Woke up at 4am with a migraine and wet feet. English weather sucks!Best tip if you do, the cold comes from the ground, not from the air! Having a 2cm airbed is not insulation and you'll wake up ice cold in mildly cold weather :s

Yup. When we were buying our house, we were visiting with my husband's parents. I can't remember if they were visiting us, or us them (opposite coasts). MIL: but where will WE sleep?

Me: On the sofabed in the living room! Or in a hotel! For the once every 2 years you guys come, I'm not spending an extra $100,000 for the extra bedroom. Can pay for a lot of hotels!

I have a close relative that does this. Went from a 4,000sq ft house worth half a million to a 900 sq ft house that she bought for $15k (and then renovated it with her husband). She's more than willing to put up guests in a hotel when they visit, if they're not comfortable on their sofa.

Most of my guests are staying with me for their convenience, not mine. I have a sofa bed they are welcome to use and will share my bathroom with them, but done are my days of feeling that I have to have a bedroom just for the 1-3 times a year that I may have a guest in town.

My dad often sleeps over when he's visiting from England, we have a double bed in the attick. Only downside is that it doesn't have a door so open sound connection to the lower level (where our 3 bedrooms and bathroom is). Unfortenatly he also sometimes brings over his GF and they stay at a hotel, he's welcome and he knows it but appearently privacy with her exceeds our offer of free room and board :P

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Everything I say is my personal opinion which is based on my subjective experience.

Yup. When we were buying our house, we were visiting with my husband's parents. I can't remember if they were visiting us, or us them (opposite coasts). MIL: but where will WE sleep?

Me: On the sofabed in the living room! Or in a hotel! For the once every 2 years you guys come, I'm not spending an extra $100,000 for the extra bedroom. Can pay for a lot of hotels!

I have a close relative that does this. Went from a 4,000sq ft house worth half a million to a 900 sq ft house that she bought for $15k (and then renovated it with her husband). She's more than willing to put up guests in a hotel when they visit, if they're not comfortable on their sofa.

My brother in law has also told us that there are 2 houses with airB&B in their street and that visitors can stay there instead. Smart. Do I like it as a guest: not really. But that is not his problem.

Linda what don't you like about it? We have one spare room (used as an office/storage) that we host guests in, but if there's more people than the house can hold, airbnb has been our go to. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on downsides to this.

My purpose is visiting them, not a bunch of strangers in another house. I might end up in a house with smokers. And I would not like to pay for it. BIL did not mention who would pay.I would rather sleep on a mattrass on the floor in their house.Last time we ended up visiting them only during daytime on our way to another location.

I agree.

Also, if someone came to visit me I would be sad if they stayed in a hotel instead of at my house. Though at the moment I'd understand, because I got rid of my bed and am sleeping on the futon. There are no other bed options in my house besides an air mattress at the moment.

Yup. When we were buying our house, we were visiting with my husband's parents. I can't remember if they were visiting us, or us them (opposite coasts). MIL: but where will WE sleep?

Me: On the sofabed in the living room! Or in a hotel! For the once every 2 years you guys come, I'm not spending an extra $100,000 for the extra bedroom. Can pay for a lot of hotels!

I have a close relative that does this. Went from a 4,000sq ft house worth half a million to a 900 sq ft house that she bought for $15k (and then renovated it with her husband). She's more than willing to put up guests in a hotel when they visit, if they're not comfortable on their sofa.

My brother in law has also told us that there are 2 houses with airB&B in their street and that visitors can stay there instead. Smart. Do I like it as a guest: not really. But that is not his problem.

Linda what don't you like about it? We have one spare room (used as an office/storage) that we host guests in, but if there's more people than the house can hold, airbnb has been our go to. Would be interested to hear your thoughts on downsides to this.

My purpose is visiting them, not a bunch of strangers in another house. I might end up in a house with smokers. And I would not like to pay for it. BIL did not mention who would pay.I would rather sleep on a mattrass on the floor in their house.Last time we ended up visiting them only during daytime on our way to another location.

I agree.

Also, if someone came to visit me I would be sad if they stayed in a hotel instead of at my house. Though at the moment I'd understand, because I got rid of my bed and am sleeping on the futon. There are no other bed options in my house besides an air mattress at the moment.

The assumption here is that you really do have extra space for them.Then again, we've slept 4 people in our 500' studio in addition to me, husband, and cat.

Also, if someone came to visit me I would be sad if they stayed in a hotel instead of at my house. Though at the moment I'd understand, because I got rid of my bed and am sleeping on the futon. There are no other bed options in my house besides an air mattress at the moment.[/quote]The assumption here is that you really do have extra space for them.Then again, we've slept 4 people in our 500' studio in addition to me, husband, and cat.[/quote]

My in-laws stay in a hotel when they come to visit. At first, I was offended, because we have a ton of space, and this would be unheard of on my side of the family. Now, I appreciate it because, they are lovely people, but have some peculiar habits and requirements, and I can just enjoy their company for several hours a day, but not cater to their peculiarities. They seem to feel more comfortable this way too. My family members know how to make themselves at home and just adapt to the environment, so it's not stressful having them stay at our house. There is an art to being a good houseguest that has nothing to do with bringing the right bottle of wine.

LOL I had a co-worker several years back who was getting ready for the birth of his first child. He started telling me about the extremely high-end, fancypants jogging stroller he had just bought, and I shit you not, said something along the lines of how his infant child would "really know he was loved" because he had bought it such a nice stroller. I replied with "Wow, sounds pretty nice. (pause) So, what kind of stroller did you have when you were a baby?"

He looked at me like I was completely nuts and said "I don't remember!" Then, after a brief pause, said "Oh...."

LOL I had a co-worker several years back who was getting ready for the birth of his first child. He started telling me about the extremely high-end, fancypants jogging stroller he had just bought, and I shit you not, said something along the lines of how his infant child would "really know he was loved" because he had bought it such a nice stroller. I replied with "Wow, sounds pretty nice. (pause) So, what kind of stroller did you have when you were a baby?"

He looked at me like I was completely nuts and said "I don't remember!" Then, after a brief pause, said "Oh...."

This is pure comedy gold. Well done.

Totally made me laugh out loud!

Clearly the dude didn't have a fancy jogging stroller, or he totally would have remembered it.

LOL I had a co-worker several years back who was getting ready for the birth of his first child. He started telling me about the extremely high-end, fancypants jogging stroller he had just bought, and I shit you not, said something along the lines of how his infant child would "really know he was loved" because he had bought it such a nice stroller. I replied with "Wow, sounds pretty nice. (pause) So, what kind of stroller did you have when you were a baby?"

He looked at me like I was completely nuts and said "I don't remember!" Then, after a brief pause, said "Oh...."

A coworker is trying to sell a "designer's" crib for $350, paid $500 for it.

We paid $25 for our crib, used. Our kids haven't complained that it was not "design" enough for them to sleep in when they were babies. Fingers crossed that our kids don't realize how awesome of a crib they could have had, had we spent 15 times the amount we did.

My youngests "crib" was made from a piece of shelving liberated from the garage. It was in my bathroom, half in my shower. Before that he slept in our room with us but he got to the point that if he woke up and saw us it was game over for any sleep. After the move smooth sailing.

We actually often have people camp over. Kids especially love it. We usually limit it to summer, get a campfire going, and all have a brilliant time! They key is don't stop drinking until the tent is up :)

Finally have a story for this thread! (At least, I think it's my first).

I'm a grad student, so my "coworkers" are mostly grad students. Virtually all of the students in my college, engineering, are funded through a teaching assistant (TA) or research assistant (RA) position. As RAs, we get paid around $26k and have our tuition waived. This money comes out of a professor's research funds. TAs get paid somewhat less than that and also have our tuition waived, with that money coming out of the department's funds.

All professors here do their best to find funding for the students in their labs (they're hired as RAs). If a professor who is low on funding is approached by a student who wants him/her as a advisor, such a professor would simply say they don't have funding available and would instruct the student to find a different advisor. However, occasionally a professor has trouble finding funding for students after they've been hired (professors are not required to have 5 years of funding for a student on hand when they hire one).

One of my friends, unfortunately, is in that position. Her advisor wasn't able to find funding for her this semester. It happens sometimes. But here's the antimustachian part: her advisor recommended she not find a TA position, because it would slow her down from graduating, and instead just take out student loans.

Yeah. Take out student loans when a perfectly viable job is available (and my friend did disregard her advisor's advice and found a TA position). But remember, without a TA or RA position, my friend would not only have to pay for living expenses but also tuition, which is $14k a semester. Granted, TAing takes about 10-15 hours a week (though some classes will require closer to 20), so yes, it does slow her down from graduating. But seriously?

A cynic would say that the professor is being selfish. Before this incident, my friend told me several times her prof is trying to transition to an administrator role and wants to graduate her students as soon as possible.

Yeah. Take out student loans when a perfectly viable job is available (and my friend did disregard her advisor's advice and found a TA position). But remember, without a TA or RA position, my friend would not only have to pay for living expenses but also tuition, which is $14k a semester. Granted, TAing takes about 10-15 hours a week (though some classes will require closer to 20), so yes, it does slow her down from graduating. But seriously?

Good for your friend! I found TAing to be not as demanding as it sounds. Even with a full course load, I was able to handle the extra 15 hours/week with no problem.

Yeah. Take out student loans when a perfectly viable job is available (and my friend did disregard her advisor's advice and found a TA position). But remember, without a TA or RA position, my friend would not only have to pay for living expenses but also tuition, which is $14k a semester. Granted, TAing takes about 10-15 hours a week (though some classes will require closer to 20), so yes, it does slow her down from graduating. But seriously?

Good for your friend! I found TAing to be not as demanding as it sounds. Even with a full course load, I was able to handle the extra 15 hours/week with no problem.

My husband TA'd on TOP of RA'ing a few times (when they couldn't find a qualified TA), and ended up teaching the class many times when the prof was out of town. Of course, that's going to happen when you are on the 7 year PhD plan.

But remember, without a TA or RA position, my friend would not only have to pay for living expenses but also tuition, which is $14k a semester. Granted, TAing takes about 10-15 hours a week (though some classes will require closer to 20), so yes, it does slow her down from graduating. But seriously?

That TA job works out to $47-$93/hour just for the waived tuition, assuming a 15 week semester... It would be insane to pass that up just to graduate a little sooner.

Yeah. Take out student loans when a perfectly viable job is available (and my friend did disregard her advisor's advice and found a TA position). But remember, without a TA or RA position, my friend would not only have to pay for living expenses but also tuition, which is $14k a semester. Granted, TAing takes about 10-15 hours a week (though some classes will require closer to 20), so yes, it does slow her down from graduating. But seriously?

Good for your friend! I found TAing to be not as demanding as it sounds. Even with a full course load, I was able to handle the extra 15 hours/week with no problem.

I agree. Just because she has to spend 15 hrs/wk on other stuff doesn't necessarily mean it's a reduction of time spent on research by 15 hrs/wk. There's only so many hours in a day one can spend on the same problem before exhausting ideas for the day.

But remember, without a TA or RA position, my friend would not only have to pay for living expenses but also tuition, which is $14k a semester. Granted, TAing takes about 10-15 hours a week (though some classes will require closer to 20), so yes, it does slow her down from graduating. But seriously?

That TA job works out to $47-$93/hour just for the waived tuition, assuming a 15 week semester... It would be insane to pass that up just to graduate a little sooner.

Yeah, which is why I was surprised to hear her professor recommended loans. Until then I had never heard of any professor doing every thing they could to find funding for their students, and if that failed, finding alternatives - e.g. one of my friends' profs got my friend a summer internship because the prof couldn't find her funding and there's fewer TA positions available in the summer.

A sky full of stars seems so rare nowadays, with all the light pollution.

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We are two former teachers who accumulated a bunch of real estate, retired at 29, and now travel the world full time with a kid.If you want to know more about me, or how we did that, or see lots of pictures, this Business Insider profile tells our story pretty well.We (occasionally) blog at AdventuringAlong.com.You can also read my forum "Journal."

A sky full of stars seems so rare nowadays, with all the light pollution.

All the more wonderful for those who have it. I camped out in Moab, Utah last summer and the stars were so thick and bright I couldn't see the dark spaces between them. I truly had trouble picking out the constellations. Mosquitos ate me alive, though: I did something dumb and camped by the river the first night. Didn't make that mistake again.

By high maintenance, i mean that she demands and gets so that he pays everything for her. They are 21 (her) and 25 (him) respectively. They live in a 250 000$ apartment in sweden's second-largest city, right smack in the middle of town. He does not own the place, or the mortgage, but is paying rent to HER father (who has the loan). But it's okay - because once he's paid off 10 000$, the father is going to GIVE him the apartment. yep. 250 000$ apartment. For free. With a loan.

The financial acumen of this kid is not to be trifled with. (i say kid, though i'm 5-6 years his senior :P).

I know for a fact he pays her medication, food, dog clothes, restaurant visits, an assortment of makeups and so forth. So today he asks me.

CW: So, do you know what graphics card to get? I really want to be able to play more CS:GO, and with better FPS than i have now.Me: Yeah, sure. Computer specs? Alright. You should go for this card. (160$ card linked).CW: What about a screen? I'm thinking about one of those 4k screen. Is this one good.Me: Yeah, that one's good. It's also 900$. You might wanna think that over.CW: (Goes silent on Skype for a long time)Me: Yo? Dude?CW: Yeah, girlfriend wanted some new fitted bedsheets. I had to buy those. They're 700$, so now i have to wait a bit for the card and so on.Me: Right. Yeah. Better check your financials.CW: Wait til the 25th, then i'm gonna order sooooo much stuuuuuffffff!Me: *Facepalming behind the computer*

That girlfriend is hot. No doubt about it. But -come on-.

Come on.

He earns, a fact i know since i'm the COO of the company, about 2200$ a month. Before taxes. Which is good for his age and the work he does, and good considering we're in sweden. (Wages are less here.)

He earns, a fact i know since i'm the COO of the company, about 2200$ a month. Before taxes. Which is good for his age and the work he does, and good considering we're in sweden. (Wages are less here.)

lets get this right... he'll be given a morgage for a 2 MSEK apartment in central Gbg, earns less than 20 KSEK a month before Swedish taxes (which is actually not a very high salary for a white collar job in Sweden, to be fair). OK, I see where this is going.

20 K / month gives you the low tax rate of ~25%. (Yes, americans, that is low for Sweden).

The apartment might work out now when prices rise and interest is low, but I assume that a couple that young in a big city might have a resturant and nightlife cost which is ... not small. And to have the perfect interior and lifestyle ... oh dear.

He earns, a fact i know since i'm the COO of the company, about 2200$ a month. Before taxes. Which is good for his age and the work he does, and good considering we're in sweden. (Wages are less here.)

lets get this right... he'll be given a morgage for a 2 MSEK apartment in central Gbg, earns less than 20 KSEK a month before Swedish taxes (which is actually not a very high salary for a white collar job in Sweden, to be fair). OK, I see where this is going.

20 K / month gives you the low tax rate of ~25%. (Yes, americans, that is low for Sweden).

The apartment might work out now when prices rise and interest is low, but I assume that a couple that young in a big city might have a resturant and nightlife cost which is ... not small. And to have the perfect interior and lifestyle ... oh dear.

I probably should have clarified that he works 80%, not 100%. At 100% that would indeed be a salary on the low end, but given that he lacks any education above high school...well...maybe i'm conservative, but i consider that to be pretty good!

Oh - she also doesn't work, and they only shop at the central/urban grocery store that costs about 1/3rd as much as "regular", cheaper ones. Adding to the awesomeness.

I probably should have clarified that he works 80%, not 100%. At 100% that would indeed be a salary on the low end, but given that he lacks any education above high school...well...maybe i'm conservative, but i consider that to be pretty good!

OK, that is good then. Most people in my company have university education, and the ones that don't have equal skills... but on the other hand, I'm from a smaller city where salaries are usually lower.

I probably should have clarified that he works 80%, not 100%. At 100% that would indeed be a salary on the low end, but given that he lacks any education above high school...well...maybe i'm conservative, but i consider that to be pretty good!

OK, that is good then. Most people in my company have university education, and the ones that don't have equal skills... but on the other hand, I'm from a smaller city where salaries are usually lower.

Her: Well, at least I won't be spending $ on that every day.Me: Yeah, that's great! How much is it?Her: 5 something.Me: That's over $17,000 if you invested it for 10 years.Her: What is it if I don't invest it?... cuz that's not happening.Me: $1,200/year, still a good chunk of $.Her: Yeah, that's not that much...I'm sure I'll spend that on something else

Her: Well, at least I won't be spending $ on that every day.Me: Yeah, that's great! How much is it?Her: 5 something.Me: That's over $17,000 if you invested it for 10 years.Her: What is it if I don't invest it?... cuz that's not happening.Me: $1,200/year, still a good chunk of $.Her: Yeah, that's not that much...I'm sure I'll spend that on something else

how do you do that math in your head?

It's probably just rough estimation. $5/day is more precisely $1,825/year (or $1,300/year for work days only), not $1,200/year.

Her: Well, at least I won't be spending $ on that every day.Me: Yeah, that's great! How much is it?Her: 5 something.Me: That's over $17,000 if you invested it for 10 years.Her: What is it if I don't invest it?... cuz that's not happening.Me: $1,200/year, still a good chunk of $.Her: Yeah, that's not that much...I'm sure I'll spend that on something else

how do you do that math in your head?

It's probably just rough estimation. $5/day is more precisely $1,825/year (or $1,300/year for work days only), not $1,200/year.

I know how much some things are in my head not because I can work it out on the spot but because I've calculated it before for myself. Maybe Maverick44 had crunched the numbers on £5/day over a working year before.

I had done it using 48 working weeks for work days only. I did the $1,200/yr part in my head, but I have an app of Financial calculators that I quickly punched the investment calculation into to get the 17000+ figure. I use that app for any potential recurring purchase, large purchase or just to see where my retirement projections are versus where I am now. Love it

Her: Well, at least I won't be spending $ on that every day.Me: Yeah, that's great! How much is it?Her: 5 something.Me: That's over $17,000 if you invested it for 10 years.Her: What is it if I don't invest it?... cuz that's not happening.Me: $1,200/year, still a good chunk of $.Her: Yeah, that's not that much...I'm sure I'll spend that on something else

On the plus side, "Her" understands the fungibility of money. Don't spend it on one thing, spend it on something else that brings greater joy.

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Give me one fine day of plain sailing weather and I can mess up anything.

Her: Well, at least I won't be spending $ on that every day.Me: Yeah, that's great! How much is it?Her: 5 something.Me: That's over $17,000 if you invested it for 10 years.Her: What is it if I don't invest it?... cuz that's not happening.Me: $1,200/year, still a good chunk of $.Her: Yeah, that's not that much...I'm sure I'll spend that on something else

On the plus side, "Her" understands the fungibility of money. Don't spend it on one thing, spend it on something else that brings greater joy.

ME: Due to the fungibility of money, I lowered my orange mochafrappucino expense to $0/yearYou: How?ME: I cut vegetables out of my grocery shopping.

Her: Well, at least I won't be spending $ on that every day.Me: Yeah, that's great! How much is it?Her: 5 something.Me: That's over $17,000 if you invested it for 10 years.Her: What is it if I don't invest it?... cuz that's not happening.Me: $1,200/year, still a good chunk of $.Her: Yeah, that's not that much...I'm sure I'll spend that on something else

how do you do that math in your head?

It's probably just rough estimation. $5/day is more precisely $1,825/year (or $1,300/year for work days only), not $1,200/year.

Since it was indicated that the money is invested, I think it goes more like this:

Just overheard the guy sitting next to me pay 'the balance' of his kids birthday pay. $175 for a child under 10.

Is that a typo? Did you mean "birthday party" (which would still be quite the party for a 10yo)? Or does his kid earn money by staying alive?

Wow I didn't even catch that. I was reading quickly and my brain automatically filled in party instead of pay (and I agree, $175 for a 10 yo's birthday party is still way too much, let alone a $175 cash birthday present).

So this wasn't strictly overheard at work, but in a discussion with a former colleague.

"So we were looking at our monthly costs, and realized we were paying all this money for gym memberships that we never really used. And we wanted to spend money in line with our priorities. So we decided to rent space in a wine cellar."